Natsu basho 2021

[Seiyashi 4,068]

23 minutes ago, Kurowashi said:

yup this will go down to terunofuji vs takakeisho… i also think this will be the main rivalry for yushos, for the rest of the year until hatsu ;) 

Theoretically if both Takakeisho and Terunofuji lose then it's actually wide open again. And it's not a given that they will win today, as it's a lot of Ichinojo to move even for Takakeisho, and Onosho is one of the few rikishi who has a good H2H against Terunofuji.

[Seiyashi 4,068]

...............I'm no rikishi, but are you supposed to be able to lose to gaburi-yori when you've got your opponent in an ottsuke?

[Eikokurai 3,433]

Daieisho has had a terrible second week, losing five of his last six to end up MK.

Actually, he’s just having a bad basho. One of his four wins was a freebie.

Edited May 20, 2021 by Eikokurai

[Kurowashi 42]

12 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

Theoretically if both Takakeisho and Terunofuji lose then it's actually wide open again. And it's not a given that they will win today, as it's a lot of Ichinojo to move even for Takakeisho, and Onosho is one of the few rikishi who has a good H2H against Terunofuji.

yeah that‘s right, but after yesterday i don‘t think terunofuji will loose today against onosho. ichinojo definitely is dangerous and could join takakeisho and endo in the 9 win group, but my bet is still on teru to yusho..

[Eikokurai 3,433]

Shodai moves within one of retaining his rank. Operation Keep Shodai an Ozeki is working like a charm.

[Seiyashi 4,068]

7 minutes ago, Eikokurai said:

Daieisho has had a terrible second week, losing five of his last six to end up MK.

Actually, he’s just having a bad basho. One of his four wins was a freebie.

He's not the only one. Mitakeumi is having a characteristic week 2 screwup, Takanosho just lost his sekiwake slot, Shodai is looking shaky but probably can erase kadoban with some luck against Takarafuji tomorrow, and the worst of it is neither Hokutofuji nor Wakatakakage are guaranteed to fill the sanyaku openings.

I wouldn't be surprised if Takanosho escaped to komusubi if Hokutofuji chalks one more loss and both Mitakeumi and Daieisho MK, but a more likely junior sanyaku next basho will be Takayasu - Mitakeumi at sekiwake, and Wakatakakage - Takanosho at komusubi assuming Takanosho stops the rot. 

Edited May 20, 2021 by Seiyashi

[Seiyashi 4,068]

Takayasu looking very non-plussed at a KK interview when he's had a fusensho. The usual platitudes forthcoming. And then the interviewer goes and asks about the disaster that was the last basho...

[Seiyashi 4,068]

Wow. Terunofuji taking no prisoners today. Straight in with a grip and right back all the way. Onosho never had a look in. Not that there was any doubt this basho, but this bout of all his bouts was definitely yokozuna-grade dominance.

Edited May 20, 2021 by Seiyashi

[Gospodin 185]

Talk about being stopped in his tracks . Poor Onosho.

[Kurowashi 42]

Kyokutaiseis mawashi change seem to have worked, at least for today..

[Fukuyamada 42]

2 hours ago, Eikokurai said:

Shodai moves within one of retaining his rank. Operation Keep Shodai an Ozeki is working like a charm.

Yeah. No matter how bad the situation is, I just recall that he has very good fundamentals and that his balance, footwork and ring positioning can often save him. It's not pretty, but it's effective.

[Kotogouryuu 126]

3 hours ago, Shinobi Steve said:

Being an Endo fan is very frustrating. Seems like he always loses when he's on the cusp on something important.

He does flake out a lot, and doesn't really manage to keep up with the top guys. When he's good, he's great, but it's so frustrating to see him just... lose sometimes.

[Eikokurai 3,433]

I love how Tobizaru won but still ended up further into the seats than his opponent. 

[ryafuji 806]

3 minutes ago, Eikokurai said:

I love how Tobizaru won but still ended up further into the seats than his opponent. 

I can't help wondering if he does it on purpose, to promote the "Flying Monkey" brand....

[Seiyashi 4,068]

51 minutes ago, ryafuji said:

56 minutes ago, Eikokurai said:

I love how Tobizaru won but still ended up further into the seats than his opponent. 

I can't help wondering if he does it on purpose, to promote the "Flying Monkey" brand....

It's not some weird injury avoidance trick like "roll further to disperse force over a wider area" or "don't abruptly stop movement" or something, right?

[Asapedroryu 227]

Terunofuji and Ichinojo will finally meet after 5 years (last was May 2016). They should have meet in Jan and Mar last year, but those matches were snubbed by the people doing the fixtures.

Hope Ichinojo is awake and we can have one of the great matches of this basho.

[Kurowashi 42]

6 minutes ago, Asapedroryu said:

Terunofuji and Ichinojo will finally meet after 5 years (last was May 2016). They should have meet in Jan and Mar last year, but those matches were snubbed by the people doing the fixtures.

Hope Ichinojo is awake and we can have one of the great matches of this basho.

Would be great if they have a mizu-iri again.

[Asapedroryu 227]

10 minutes ago, Kurowashi said:

Would be great if they have a mizu-iri again.

Yep, it happen twice in their first 4 matches. Other long ones in what is a short number of only 9 matches between them:

http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Query_bout.aspx?show_form=0&shikona1=Ichinojo&shikona2=Terunofuji

[Rocks 1,805]

Man, that looked like a practice session in makuuchi the sumo was so bad. That's one highlight reel I won't be watching again because there weren't any highlights. 

[Kurowashi 42]

22 minutes ago, Asapedroryu said:

Yep, it happen twice in their first 4 matches. Other long ones in what is a short number of only 9 matches between them:

http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Query_bout.aspx?show_form=0&shikona1=Ichinojo&shikona2=Terunofuji

Thanks to your query i just rewatched all their matches :D All of them were exciting, so i‘m really curious how the story will go on 5 years later :)

[Eikokurai 3,433]

41 minutes ago, Kurowashi said:

Would be great if they have a mizu-iri again.

Except they’re not allowed to drink the water at the moment. 

[Swami 245]

Terunofuji did very well today, especially considering his head-to-head against Onosho.  The loss yesterday was especially unfortunate since he has now beaten his major nemeses (Takayasu and Onosho) this time.

I suspect the Asanoyama aftermath may overshadow the last few days of action.

Swami

[Old Shatterhand is dead 29]

just a question, suppose the May basho is decided by a play off between Takakeisho and Terunofuji and in July the two of them again decide the tournament by a play off, but both of them win only one of the two play offs, then in September there will be two yokozuna?

[Amamaniac 2,078]

31 minutes ago, Eikokurai said:

1 hour ago, Kurowashi said:

Would be great if they have a mizu-iri again.

Except they’re not allowed to drink the water at the moment. 

I'm pretty sure they could come up with a fix for that.  Yes, they aren't allowed to drink the power water from the communal bucket, but I believe they are still able to hydrate before they walk down the hanamichi.  All that would be required is for the wrestlers' respective tsukebito to walk to the to their respective corners with their respective personal water bottles, and Bob's your uncle.  

It is a mizu-iri, not a chikaramizu-iri, after all.   But I'm with Kurowashi, it would indeed be fascinating to see if the NSK has considered that remote eventuality in their Covid guidelines.

Edited May 20, 2021 by Amamaniac

[Eikokurai 3,433]

9 minutes ago, Old Shatterhand is dead said:

just a question, suppose the May basho is decided by a play off between Takakeisho and Terunofuji and in July the two of them again decide the tournament by a play off, but both of them win only one of the two play offs, then in September there will be two yokozuna?

They’ll have a playoff to the death to decide who becomes Yokozuna.